Ituran
Corporate brand
UnclaimedIsraeli provider of stolen-vehicle recovery, vehicle tracking, and telematics services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Ituran is an Israeli location-and-control company specializing in stolen-vehicle recovery, vehicle tracking, GPS-enabled communications, and automotive telematics. It operates a subscription-based service model in which vehicles are equipped with tracking and communications hardware connected to monitoring and response infrastructure. The company serves private vehicle owners, insurers, automotive manufacturers, dealerships, and commercial fleets, with its principal markets historically including Israel, Brazil, Argentina, and the United States. The business originated in the mid-1990s within the Tadiran conglomerate. Tadiran developed the Ituran concept around technology for locating stolen vehicles, drawing on telematics capabilities that had originally been developed for military and communications applications. The system combines location data, wireless communications, monitoring centers, and recovery procedures. This positioned Ituran between an equipment supplier and a security-services provider: the company has supplied tracking devices while also generating recurring revenue from connectivity, monitoring, and recovery services. A major early turning point came in 1995, when Tadiran sold the Ituran concept to investors led by Izzy Sheratzky. Ituran subsequently expanded beyond Israel and raised capital through a 1998 initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. In 1999, it acquired Tadiran Telematics, the business that manufactured tracking equipment used by Ituran. The acquisition gave the company greater control over hardware production and helped reduce the cost of systems supplied to customers. That manufacturing operation was later renamed Telematics Wireless and sold to Singapore-based ST Electronics in 2007. Ituran continued its international expansion through the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. Brazil became one of its largest operating markets, and the company later developed relationships with automotive manufacturers and mobile-network operators. In 2007, Ituran acquired Mapa, an Israeli mapping, publishing, geographic-database, and navigation-services group, broadening its exposure to location-based information. In 2011, it agreed with Pelephone to use the operator's network in connection with a mobile virtual network operator venture. In 2012, its Brazilian operation entered an arrangement with General Motors Brazil through an Ituran-controlled company. The company completed a Nasdaq initial public offering in 2005 and has traded under the symbol ITRN. Ituran's services have remained centered on vehicle security and location intelligence, but the underlying proposition has broadened to include fleet oversight, driver and vehicle monitoring, navigation-related capabilities, and connected-car services. By June 2020, the company reported more than two million subscribers, while reference material described a global workforce of more than 3,200 employees. Ituran's competitive identity rests on combining proprietary or integrated tracking hardware with communications networks, monitoring operations, local market knowledge, and recovery services. Its customer value proposition is strongest where theft prevention, rapid recovery, insurance support, and fleet visibility are important. At the same time, the company operates in a sector with heightened privacy and cybersecurity requirements. In 2018, a serious vulnerability in the Israeli customer system was publicly reported as exposing personal information and, for some users, enabling real-time location tracking. Ituran disabled its Israeli self-service portal while working to address the issue. The incident underscored the security responsibilities associated with connected-vehicle platforms.
History
Ituran was established in 1994 by the Tadiran conglomerate to develop a commercial stolen-vehicle-location service. The underlying telematics capability had roots in technology developed at Tadiran Telematics, a subsidiary of Tadiran Communications. Tadiran had worked with technology associated with Teletrac, a United States vehicle-location company, including the construction of base stations for Teletrac's American system. Elements of that technology were later used under license in the deployment of an Israeli network. In 1995, Tadiran sold the Ituran concept to a group of investors led by Izzy Sheratzky. The transaction separated the operating venture from its original conglomerate sponsor and enabled Ituran to pursue a more focused commercial growth strategy. The company's initial service proposition centered on recovering stolen vehicles by transmitting location and status information to monitoring and response operations. This model combined physical tracking equipment with recurring service revenue. Ituran raised expansion capital through an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 1998. The funding supported efforts to develop the service outside Israel, particularly in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. In November 1999, Ituran acquired Tadiran Telematics for $10 million. Tadiran Telematics manufactured the tracking devices used in Ituran's services, so the transaction brought an important part of the hardware supply chain into the company and was intended to lower system costs. The acquired operation was subsequently renamed Telematics Wireless. The company broadened its capital-market presence with a Nasdaq initial public offering in 2005. The offering reportedly raised approximately $50 million and valued the company at approximately $294 million at the time. Ituran also expanded into mapping and location information. In April 2007, it acquired the Mapa group for $13 million. Mapa had roots in Israeli book publishing and later became a cartographic and geographic-information business, producing maps, geographic databases, navigation products, and location-based services. Later in 2007, Ituran sold Telematics Wireless to ST Electronics, a Singapore-based company within ST Engineering, for $90 million. The divestiture reduced Ituran's direct exposure to device manufacturing while leaving the company focused on its service, monitoring, and location-solutions activities. In 2011, Ituran signed an agreement with Pelephone to use the operator's network for a mobile virtual network operator initiative. In 2012, Ituran Brazil entered an agreement with General Motors Brazil through an Ituran-controlled company, illustrating the company's effort to distribute connected-vehicle services through automotive manufacturers. Brazil became a particularly important market. Ituran Brazil was founded in 1999 and was reported to have more than 310,000 active subscribers at the end of 2014. More broadly, the company developed a presence in Israel, Brazil, Argentina, and the United States and was described as a market leader in those countries. By June 2020, reference material reported more than two million subscribers worldwide. The company has also been described as having more than 3,200 employees globally. Ituran's business has remained anchored in stolen-vehicle recovery and tracking, while expanding into fleet telematics, vehicle monitoring, navigation, and other location-based services. Its operating model depends on the integration of tracking units, wireless communications, software, monitoring centers, and country-specific recovery networks. This integration supports both consumer subscriptions and business relationships with insurers, fleet operators, dealerships, and vehicle manufacturers. The company's dependence on connected systems also creates privacy and cybersecurity risks. In May 2018, a serious vulnerability was reported in the Ituran system. The issue reportedly allowed unauthorized access to customer information, including addresses, telephone numbers, and vehicle-registration details, and in some cases enabled real-time tracking through the Ituran application. Ituran disabled its Israeli self-service portal while the vulnerability was being fixed. The incident became a significant reminder that vehicle-location providers must protect both account data and live mobility information.
- 2018
Customer-system vulnerability disclosed
[1]A reported security vulnerability led Ituran to disable its Israeli self-service portal while remediation was undertaken.
- 2012
General Motors Brazil agreement
[1]Ituran Brazil entered an agreement with General Motors Brazil through an Ituran-controlled company.
- 2011
Pelephone network agreement
[1]Ituran agreed to use Pelephone's network in connection with an MVNO venture.
- 2007
Mapa acquisition and Telematics Wireless divestiture
[1]Ituran acquired Mapa and later sold Telematics Wireless to ST Electronics.
- 2005
Nasdaq initial public offering
[1]Ituran raised approximately $50 million through a Nasdaq offering.
- 1999
Acquisition of Tadiran Telematics
[1]Ituran acquired the tracking-device manufacturer Tadiran Telematics and later renamed the operation Telematics Wireless.
- 1998
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange offering
[1]Ituran completed an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to fund overseas expansion.
- 1995
Ituran concept sold to investor group
[1]Tadiran sold the Ituran concept to investors led by Izzy Sheratzky.
- 1994
Ituran is established within Tadiran
[1]Tadiran established Ituran to develop and operate a stolen-vehicle-location service based on telematics technology.
Products and positioning
A vehicle-security and telematics provider that combines tracking hardware, wireless connectivity, monitoring centers, and recovery operations for consumers, fleets, insurers, and automotive partners.
Vehicle security · 1994
Stolen-vehicle recovery service
Ituran's core service uses an installed tracking and communications unit to help locate vehicles reported stolen. The service connects vehicle data with monitoring and recovery operations, making it more than a stand-alone GPS device. Its value proposition is rapid identification and recovery, supported by local operating infrastructure in the markets where Ituran has established service networks.
Connected-vehicle services
Vehicle tracking and telematics
Ituran provides GPS and wireless vehicle-location capabilities for consumers, fleets, and automotive partners. Depending on the market and service configuration, these capabilities can support location visibility, vehicle status information, fleet oversight, navigation-related functions, and other location-based services. The offering combines hardware, communications, software, and subscription support.
Mapping and geographic information · 2007
Mapa mapping and location services
Mapa was an Israeli mapping, publishing, geographic-database, satellite-navigation, and location-based-services group acquired by Ituran in 2007. Its activities expanded Ituran's exposure beyond vehicle recovery into cartographic content and geographic information. The available reference material does not establish the current status of the Mapa business within Ituran.
Controversies
2018
Ituran customer-system security vulnerability
A severe vulnerability reported in May 2018 was described as allowing unauthorized extraction of customer information such as home addresses, telephone numbers, and vehicle-registration numbers. For some users, the issue reportedly also enabled real-time tracking through the Ituran application. Ituran disabled the Israeli self-service portal while the vulnerability was being addressed.
Brand decisions
2012
Expand automotive distribution through General Motors BrazilStrategyBackground
Ituran sought to embed its vehicle-location services in automotive channels and extend its Brazilian subscriber base.
Action taken
Ituran Brazil entered an agreement with General Motors Brazil through a company controlled 51 percent by Ituran.
Aftermath
The arrangement strengthened Ituran's relationship with an automotive manufacturer; the available material does not provide later performance details.
2011
Develop an MVNO venture with PelephoneStrategyBackground
Ituran explored greater control over wireless connectivity used by its location and telematics services.
Action taken
Ituran signed an agreement permitting use of Pelephone's network for a mobile virtual network operator venture.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not establish whether the venture became a significant continuing business.
2007
Acquire MapaM&ABackground
Ituran sought to expand its location-services capabilities into mapping, geographic databases, navigation, and related information products.
Action taken
Ituran acquired the Mapa group for $13 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened the company's portfolio beyond vehicle tracking, although the available reference material does not document the long-term operating outcome.
Acquisition price. $13 million (April 2007)
2007
Sell Telematics WirelessStrategyBackground
After acquiring the tracking-device manufacturing operation in 1999, Ituran reassessed the balance between hardware production and its service-focused business.
Action taken
Ituran sold Telematics Wireless to Singapore-based ST Electronics for $90 million.
Aftermath
The transaction shifted the company away from direct device manufacturing and toward tracking, monitoring, and location-service operations.
Sale price. $90 million (November 2007)
1999
Acquire Tadiran TelematicsM&ABackground
Ituran depended on tracking devices manufactured by Tadiran Telematics, the business from which its technology lineage originated.
Action taken
Ituran acquired Tadiran Telematics for $10 million, bringing device manufacturing closer to the operating company and seeking lower system costs.
Aftermath
The operation was later renamed Telematics Wireless and was ultimately sold to ST Electronics in 2007.
Acquisition price. $10 million (1999)
Recent events
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